Yaesu
Musen Co. Amateur Radio Equipment in Australia During The 1960's

by Greg Whiter, VK4IG
(Ex VK3CA)

In order
to help promote their F-Line product range, Yaesu Musen Co. made
available to hams who used their equipment a QSL card which
could be over printed with that person's call sign.

JA6ELZ's
QSL card is an example of the card that Yaesu Musen made
available to ham's who used their equipment.

Shown
above is another QSL Card from Yaesu Musen which was available to hams
who purchased Yaesu equipment. Hams could over print their call sign
and address details on the face of the card. This QSL card depicts the
then new (from left to right) FLdx200 linear amplifier, FRdx400 HF SSB
receiver and FLdx400 HF SSB transmitter.

A
final QSL card from JA1MP, Sako Hasagawa, founder of Yaesu Musen Co.
Ltd. was issued following his death June 12th 1993.

Shown
above are both Fred and Jim Bail's amateur radio QSL
Cards. Prior to getting involved with Yaesu Musen Co.,
Jim and Fred had been very active amateur radio operators, Fred having
gained his license in 1938 at age 20. The war years saw Fred Bail
initially as an instructor at the RAAF's Ballarat Radio School and
subsequently with 82 Fighter Squadron until wars end. Both graduating
from the Marconi School Of Wireless in time for the introduction of TV
in Australia, Jim and Fred Bail started Bail Radio & TV Service in
1956. During the early years after the Second World
War they pioneered 166 MHz, 144 MHz and 50 MHz operation around
Victoria, as well as both being actively involved with the
Wireless Institute of Australia. In 1954 Fred Bail became Federal
Councillor for the Victorian Division of the WIA. During the period
1955 to 1956 Fred
held the WIA Victorian division office of Secretary, then in 1957 to
1958 he was
elected President. Fred went on to hold the Vice-Presidency from
1959 to 1962. In the
late 1950's, around the 1957 Geophysical Year, he often opened up his
amateur radio station to the
wives and families of Australians stationed at the
Antarctic, who could then talk to their loved ones via
ham radio. Fred Bail passed away on the 26th of May 1979 following a
massive heart attack.

In
or around May 1966 Fred Bail, VK3YS, displayed some of
Yaesu's new SSB equipment at the Wireless Institute of
Australia's Gosford (NSW) field day. The FL-50 SSB
transmitter and its FV-50 VFO, having just been released
by Yaesu Musen, took pride of place on the display stand.
Also seen at the back is Fred Bail's own original FL-20 crystal
controlled SSB transmitter, and to the right, an FL-1000
linear amplifier. This particular FL-20 was the very first piece of
Yaesu equipment to arrive and operate in Australia when Fred Bail
brought it back to Australia from Japan following a holiday he had there in 1963.
The author is now in possession of this particular FL-20.

Shown
at left are
Fred Bail, VK3YS
and Jim Bail, VK3ABA.

At right are depicted
various Bail logos.

Fred
Bail passed away in the late 1970's, Jim Bail passed away in the
early 1980's. Following Fred's passing their company was sold to
Stan Roberts of Teletramel, who continued to run Bail Electronic
Services into the early 1990's from the Victorian country town of
Wangaratta.

The author would
be happy to hear from anybody who has very early Yaesu equipment,
such as FL-20 Mark's 1 and 2, or FL-100B Mark's 1 and 2. By way
of some background information on the author, Greg Whiter was
employed by Bail Electronic Services (see
1974 staff photo) from the late
1960's through to 1977. Following this period he formed the company GFS
Electronic Imports, GFS Electronics and then
Portable Masts Australia Pty Ltd, of which he
is a director today.

Other
Pages at this site, include: FL-100B,
the first Australian Yaesu radio, F-Line
of the mid 1960's, FL-10/40Details,FL-20Circuit and
photos, BES 1974Staff
Photo,
Yaesu/VK3YS/VK3ABAQSL
Cards, FL-50 MagazineReviewand photos,Photo and details of Yaesu's
first SSB Transceiver, the 1966 released solid stateFT-100,
FT-100
Trouble Shooting Guide is shownHERE,
the 1968 releasedFTdx400,
The YaesuMuseum(German Site)